Luminous attachment for door knobs



Sept. 4, 1951 B. HEINZ LUMINOUS ATTACHMENT- FOR DOOR KNOBS Filed Aug. 14, 1950 ATTORNEYS Patented Sept. 4, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,566,490 LUMI NOUS ATTACHMENT FOB. DOOR KN OBS Bernard Heinz, Scranton, Pa. Application August 14, 1950, Serial No. 179,351

2 Claims. (Cl. 250-44) This invention relates to a luminous attachment or part for door knobs containing locks.

An object of this invention is to provide an attachment for a door knob which embodies a lock whereby the lock barrel will be surrounded by a luminous ring whereby the barrel may be made visible in the dark.

Another object of this invention is to provide an attachment of this kind wherein the luminous ring is also formed as a key guide with the ring having a rounded or convex guide opening for guiding the key to the keyhole.

Another object of this invention is to provide an attachment of this kind which will conform closely to the configuration of the door knob and will firmly grip the knob so that the attachment and knob will be immovable one relative tothe her.

In a modified form of this invention the outer end of the knob is formed with an annular recess or groove within which a luminous ring is inlaid so as to make the lock barrel visible in the dark.

With the above and other objects in view, my invention consists in the arrangement, combination and details of construction disclosed in the drawings and specification, and then more particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a detailed front elevation of a luminous attachment constructed according to an embodiment of this invention.

Figure 2 is a sectional view taken on the line 2-2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is an inner end view of a luminous ring or key guide.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on the line 4-4 of Figure 1.

Figure 5 is a front elevation of a modified form of this invention.

Figure 6 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on the line -45 of Figure 5.

Referring to the drawings, the numeral l0 designates generally a door knob containing a lock barrel The knob I0 is formed about the lock barrel II with a substantially frustroconical escutcheon l2. A luminous ring holder generally designated as H is clamped or otherwise flrmly secured about the knob l0 and includes a frustro-conical outer wall l5 having an opening 16 and also includes a transversely arcuate annulus H which is lengthwise split as indicated at It to thereby form a plurality of clamping fingers or blades IS.

A luminous ring generally designated as 20 is firmly clamped against the outer face 01 the escutcheon l2 and comprises an annular luminous body 2| engaging through the central opening I6 of the front wall l5 and formed with a marginal flange 22 engaging interiorly of the front wall IS. The ring 2| is also formed with an annular cutout 23 so that the inner face 2| will be free of the lock barrel H in order that the barrel H may be freely rotated by the insertion of a key therein. The ring 2| is formed with a rounded key guiding face 24 which facilitates the insertion and guiding of the key to the keyhole 25 formed in the lock barrel The ring 2| is formed of any suitable luminous material and is preferably formed of Lucite which is impregnated with phosphor or other luminous material.

Referring now to Figure 6 there is disclosed a modified form of this invention wherein the outer end or escutcheon |2a of the knob is formed with an annular recess 26 within which a ring 21 is mounted. The ring 21 constitutes a holder formed with inner and outer flanges within which radium or other luminous material 28 is positioned.

By providing a holder 21 with upturned inner and outer edges the radium 28 may be very evenly applied as the height of the flanges of holder 21 will determine the depth of radium. In practice the radium is positioned within the holder 28, and a scraper is then passed over the flanges of the holder 21 so that all surplus radium will be removed. A cushion element 29 in the form of cork ring, or the like, is interposed between the holder 21 and the bottom of the recesses 26, and a transparent ring 30 is positioned over the outer side of the holder 21 and is crimped or otherwise firmly secured by crimping 3|.

The transparent ring 30 provides a means whereby dirt or other foreign matter will be prevented from entering the recess 26 and contacting with the radium or luminous material 28.

In the use of this attachment the holder I4 is positioned inwardly over the knob II], the fingers |9 flexing as they pass over the rounded surface of the knob H). The holder is positioned inwardly until the luminous ring 2| is disposed tightly against the bezel I2. The luminous ring 2| is of the type which will glow in the dark after having initially been exposed to light.

Where it is desired to make the luminous ring as a substantial part of the knob the luminous inlay disclosed in Figure 6 may be used.

The attachment shown in Figures 1 to 5, inclusive, is designed particularly for mounting on r 3 door knobs at present in use which have a lock disposed within the knob.

I claim:

1. A luminous attachment for a door knob having a lock barrel comprising an annular holder having a central opening, a luminous ring projecting through said opening, an annular flange oarried by said ring engaging against the inner side of said holder, and a plurality of resilient knob clamping fingers carried by said holder.

2. A luminous attachment for a door knob having a lock barrel comprising a member having a i confronting position to the outer end of the knob; a luminous ring disposed in said opening and central opening and adapted to be disposed in engaging about the lock barrel, a ilange carried I by said ring engaging against the inner'side of 7 REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the tilefo f this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 273,685 fluntley Mar. 6, 1883 1,389,941 Erdle Sept. 6, 1921 1 2,1853% Fordyce .Jan. 23, '1940 2,453,272 Savoie Nov. 9, 1948 

